What is location of gooseneck hitch ball in your shortbed truck?

[SpectatorRacing]

I have a 2010 2500 with a 6'8" box. I am trying to find an enclosed car hauler that clears the cab without hitch extensions or adapters. Most of the tapered nose trailers narrow down to a 6' front face, but that still won't clear my cab.

My current hitch installation (uni-goose) has the hitch ball forward of the axle at 34 inches from the cab. The minimum clearance i need is 40 inches.

I thought getting a different hitch brand would move the ball back over the axle, but studying pictures and videos of B&W, Draw-tite, and Curt seem to show that all of them place the ball about 6" forward of the axle.

Can anyone confirm where their hitch ball sits with relation to the cab on a short bed 2500?

Thanks!

 

[shorthorn]

I believe all gooseneck balls are placed slightly ahead of the axle to avoid unloading the front end as the pin weight increases.

Have you considered something like the B&W offset ball? This would push the gooseneck balll back 4"... they also have offset gooseneck couplers for the trailer which push the coupling point forward another couple inches...

 

[mewheeler]

We have used B&W's 4" off set ball with great success in my wife's 3500 short box and L.Q. horse trailer, but if you really want to push the trailer back without lightening the front end of the truck, B&W's TEXA4200 shoves the trailer back 10". This replacement trailer "snout" is fantastic! We have it on another big-nosed trailer. Really gets the trailer away from the back of the cab, and the tailgate. These are the two B&W items that "shorthorn" is talking about above.

 

[Grizzly]

You can actually set the ball directly over the axel or slightly behind the axle with having much effect on the trailer and loading. I've never done it, but I know some that have.

 

[Jnrfx]

If the rear axle is mounted to the frame via leaf springs and shocks that spread a foot either side of center what does it matter if the gooseneck is slightly off of center one way or another as long as its in the span of the springs?

 

[Ozymandias]

If the rear axle is mounted to the frame via leaf springs and shocks that spread a foot either side of center what does it matter if the gooseneck is slightly off of center one way or another as long as its in the span of the springs?

It matters a lot.

 

[SnoKing]

If the rear axle is mounted to the frame via leaf springs and shocks that spread a foot either side of center what does it matter if the gooseneck is slightly off of center one way or another as long as its in the span of the springs?

You never played on a teeter totter as a kid? Placement of weight is a pickup behind or in front of the rear axle effects the front axle. Ahead adds weight to front axle, behind removes weight from front axle. Here is 3K between the rear axle and tail gate. most like removed 200-300 lbs from front axle.

So the rear axle gained 3K + the 200-300 lbs missing from the front axle.

 

[mfurrh55]

I run a 4" hitch offset and an 8" trailer offset and it doesn't make too much of a difference on a 40' enclosed gooseneck, not enough to worry about anyway

 

[AH64ID]

If the rear axle is mounted to the frame via leaf springs and shocks that spread a foot either side of center what does it matter if the gooseneck is slightly off of center one way or another as long as its in the span of the springs?

Old thread, so what are you trying to clear?

But it does matter quite a bit. Every pound behind the rear alxe, not rear spring mount, will reduce weight from the front axle.

 

[SnoKing]

Old thread, so what are you trying to clear?

But it does matter quite a bit. Every pound behind the rear alxe, not rear spring mount, will reduce weight from the front axle.

And as I stated the weight removed from the front axle does not just disappear, it moves to the rear axle.

 

[AH64ID]

And as I stated the weight removed from the front axle does not just disappear, it moves to the rear axle.

Yep, nothing like reducing available rear axle payload with weight placement.

On my '05 I had a 18" toolbox, and a double ATV carrier that sat behind that. The CG of the ATV carrier was behind the axle, and then I'd place a 1300 LB TW TT on a 18" long hitch. Even with a WD hitch my front axle would unload at least 400 lbs...depending on what else was in the bed. It's why I ran 19.5's on that truck.

On the '18 I'm not running a tool box, couple different reasons, and now have an ATV carrier that goes to the front of the bed. I'm able to put the heavier ATV forward of the axle and load more water/wood in the front of the bed. With the same ATV's, hitch, and TT I've reduced my RAW by 500+ lbs and no longer need 19.5's to support the weight.

Weight placement is more critical than some realize. Ever wonder why the Tundra rear axle is so far back? It sure does help put more weight on the front axle and maintain good handling.